The Town FilesSandusky, Ohio
City in Erie County · population 25,095 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $113,100
- Household income
- $50,139
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 36.5
Sandusky is a city of 25,095 people in Erie County, Ohio. The median home is worth $113,100, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of Ohio towns, more walkable than 96% of Ohio towns, more vibrant than 94% of Ohio towns.
How Sandusky ranks
Percentile among Ohio towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Ohio towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sandusky is worth $113,100, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $50,139, which is more affordable than 74% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $905 a month. 50.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sandusky | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $113,100 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $905 | $914 |
| Median household income | $50,139 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 50.1% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.9% | — |
Who lives in Sandusky
| People | Sandusky | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.9% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.0% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.6% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 3.7% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.9% | 90.9% |
Weather in Sandusky
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 21.8°F. About 34.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.9 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 105 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sandusky since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 8, 1953 about 6.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 26 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on November 5, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 9, 2012.
Severe weather in Erie County since 1996
Erie County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| July 2, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1651: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3250: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Erie County
Erie County had 36,283 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,985 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Sandusky itself the ACS puts it at 7.8%.
Public schools in Sandusky
10 public schools with 5,219 students, about 17.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandusky High School | 9-12 | 994 | 18.1 |
| The Sandusky Intermediate School | 3-6 | 869 | 16.4 |
| Perkins High School | 9-12 | 583 | 18.2 |
| Furry Elementary School | PK-2 | 529 | 19.6 |
| Sandusky Middle School | 7-8 | 451 | 16.7 |
| The Sandusky Primary School | K-2 | 433 | 16.0 |
| Meadowlawn Elementary School | 3-5 | 404 | 16.8 |
| Briar Middle School | 6-8 | 402 | 16.8 |
| The Early Learning Academy | PK-K | 364 | 19.2 |
| Monroe Preparatory Academy (charter) | K-8 | 190 | 21.1 |
Towns near Sandusky
- Huron, OH8.8 mi · 6,922 people · home $222,500
- Port Clinton, OH12.2 mi · 6,025 people · home $152,300
- Bellevue, OH14.1 mi · 8,249 people · home $152,800
- Norwalk, OH15.6 mi · 17,068 people · home $163,300
- Clyde, OH17.3 mi · 6,294 people · home $129,600
- Vermilion, OH20.8 mi · 10,659 people · home $183,600
- Fremont, OH21.9 mi · 15,930 people · home $117,500
- Oak Harbor, OH22.0 mi · 2,821 people · home $142,200
Sandusky questions
Is Sandusky, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sandusky scores better for retirees than 14% of Ohio towns and quieter than 10%. 16.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.5).
How much does a house cost in Sandusky?
The median owner-occupied home in Sandusky is valued at $113,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,139, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $905 a month.
What is the weather like in Sandusky?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 21.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.0 inches of precipitation a year and 30.9 inches of snow.
Does Sandusky get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sandusky since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 8, 1953. The typical Ohio town has had 16.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)